Italy & Greece with Aegean Cruise (6485) - 2015

16 Day Tour from Rome to Athens

Vacation Overview

Discover two vibrant Mediterranean countries on one exciting vacation. Begin in Rome with two overnights and guided sightseeing that visits the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Next, follow the coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea to marvel at Pisa’s Leaning Tower. Then, spend two nights in Tuscany with Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance,” and join the included walking tour of the historical center. In Verona, see Juliet’s famous balcony; in Venice, enjoy a canal boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and marvel at the elaborate architecture. Board an overnight ferry in Ancona and head to Greece. Visit Olympia and the impressive Mycenae archaeological site, and see the Corinth Canal. In Athens, the Acropolis is a highlight of the included sightseeing tour. Embark your ship and cruise among the spectacular Greek isles, including stops in Mykonos; Kusadasi, Turkey; Crete; and Santorini. Return to Athens for a final overnight and the conclusion of your vacation.

View Offers

Receive a $100 per person Air Credit on select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

*Book a select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacation to receive the $100 per person Air Credit. Valid on Cosmos and Monograms vacations of six nights or more. Must be booked, under deposit and discount applied between January 7 and May 5, 2015 for travel in 2015. Not applicable to custom tours. Not applicable on instant purchase air. Applies to coach class only. Air must be purchased through Cosmos or Monograms in conjunction with a Europe vacation. Air credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. Offer not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos $50 coupon and Cosmos Single Supplement promotion and Monograms Wanderlist promos. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Air Credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. An additional $300 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with a land vacation. Once ticketed, airline reservations subject to change/cancellation penalties of between $300 per ticket and 100% of ticket price; air tickets not eligible for frequent flyer mileage/point accrual; stopovers not permitted. Promotional discounts do not carry forward on changed air bookings however other promotions at time of change may be available. Once airfare is confirmed and we have received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive price is guaranteed. We reserve the right to ticket passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; visit www.iflybags.com for more details. Availability of promotional prices are limited and may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates or, length of stay. Additional restrictions apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. Air tickets are non-commissionable. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. CST#2017032-20. PRMY072

Save $50 per person on any 2015 Cosmos vacation.*

*Book a 2015 Cosmos vacation to receive the $50 per person discount on the land price. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between March 11 and April 7, 2015 for travel in 2015. Discount will apply to individual members of groups adding a name and non-refundable per person deposit WITHIN the promo window. Not applicable on TBA space. Not applicable to custom tours. Not combinable with any other promotion except the Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos Eastern Canada $200 and the current air promo. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. PRMX0266

View Offers

Receive a $100 per person Air Credit on select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

*Book a select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacation to receive the $100 per person Air Credit. Valid on Cosmos and Monograms vacations of six nights or more. Must be booked, under deposit and discount applied between January 7 and May 5, 2015 for travel in 2015. Not applicable to custom tours. Not applicable on instant purchase air. Applies to coach class only. Air must be purchased through Cosmos or Monograms in conjunction with a Europe vacation. Air credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. Offer not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos $50 coupon and Cosmos Single Supplement promotion and Monograms Wanderlist promos. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Air Credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. An additional $300 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with a land vacation. Once ticketed, airline reservations subject to change/cancellation penalties of between $300 per ticket and 100% of ticket price; air tickets not eligible for frequent flyer mileage/point accrual; stopovers not permitted. Promotional discounts do not carry forward on changed air bookings however other promotions at time of change may be available. Once airfare is confirmed and we have received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive price is guaranteed. We reserve the right to ticket passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; visit www.iflybags.com for more details. Availability of promotional prices are limited and may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates or, length of stay. Additional restrictions apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. Air tickets are non-commissionable. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. CST#2017032-20. PRMY072

Save $50 per person on any 2015 Cosmos vacation.*

*Book a 2015 Cosmos vacation to receive the $50 per person discount on the land price. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between March 11 and April 7, 2015 for travel in 2015. Discount will apply to individual members of groups adding a name and non-refundable per person deposit WITHIN the promo window. Not applicable on TBA space. Not applicable to custom tours. Not combinable with any other promotion except the Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos Eastern Canada $200 and the current air promo. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. PRMX0266

Individual headsets on land tourInside visits and special features:Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.Sightseeing:Visits to Pisa, Verona, Venice, Ravenna, Olympia, Corinth Canal

Guides:

Local Guides for city sightseeing in Rome, Florence, Mycenae, Athens. Professional Tour Director while touring

Day 1Arrive in Rome, Italy

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 2Rome

Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in ST. PETER’S SQUARE, followed by a visit to the ROMAN FORUM and the mighty COLOSSEUM. (B)

Day 3Rome–Pisa–Florence Area

Vistas of undulating hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Take a break in Pisa to see the SQUARE OF MIRACLES and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to the Florence area. End the day by joining the optional Tuscan dinner in a typical restaurant. (B)

Day 4Florence

This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled the entire day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic center so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.” Tonight, enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 5Florence Area–Verona–Venice Area

An interesting journey today northwards for a first stop in enchanting Verona to see the legendary balcony from Romeo and Juliet. Just a few more miles eastwards to Venice. (B)

Day 6Venice

Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. The included orientation starts with a BOAT RIDE and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)

Start the day by journeying across the flatlands of the Po Delta to medieval Ravenna. Next, reach Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic. This afternoon, embark on the ferry for the crossing to Patras. (B)

Day 8Patras (Disembarkation)–Olympia

Plenty of time to enjoy all the ship’s facilities. Disembark this afternoon in Patras. Drive south into the Peloponnese for an overnight in Olympia. (B,D)

Day 9Olympia–Nauplia

Make the most of this morning by taking the optional tour of the sights of ancient Olympia, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon, enjoy the rugged scenery of the Peloponnese on the way via Tripolis to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 10Nauplia–Mycenae–Athens

Morning visit with a Local Guide to the impressive ruins of MYCENAE. Later, stop to view the CORINTH CANAL, which was built between 1881 and 1893. (B)

Day 11Athens

Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital and a visit to the ACROPOLIS. Explore the shops and museums or take a trip to the coast to swim. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music, or join an optional Greek dinner. (B)

Day 12Athens–Piraeus/Lavrion (Embarkation)–Mykonos

Board your cruise ship. Afternoon cruising in the Aegean on your way to Mykonos with its white houses, chapels, and thatched windmills. Late-evening departure for Kusadasi, Turkey. (B,L,D)

Day 13Kusadasi, Turkey

Two ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An optional excursion is available to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation. The 11th-centruy monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit. (B,L,D)

Day 14Heraklion–Santorini

First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the center of the 3000 BC Minoan civilization, and an optional excursion can be booked. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” The optional shore excursion here takes you up to the cliff-top village of Thera for one of the world’s most breathtaking panoramas. (B,L,D)

Day 15Piraeus/Lavrion, Greece (Disembarkation)–Athens

Early morning arrival at the famous port of Piraeus. After disembarkation, continue to Athens for an overnight. (B)

Day 16Athens

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Transportation: Scheduled transatlantic flights and airport transfers in Rome and Athens if Cosmos issues the air tickets. Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Canal transfer boat in Venice. Ferry Ancona-Patras accommodation in 2-berth cabins with private shower and toilet. Cruise in inside cabins with private shower and toilet; supplement for cabin upgrades are listed under Dates & Prices; all port taxes are not included.

Buffet breakfasts; 3 lunches; 7 dinners, including a dinner at a local restaurant in Florence and Nauplia

With Cosmos, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

SILVIO CACACE

Years of Experience: 12 years

Sharing some of the most enchanting wonders of my home country with new people is always fulfilling. I love introducing travelers to the charm of the "Eternal City," the art and architecture of Florence, the romantic magnetism of Venice, and the mouthwatering food and wines. I enjoy every second of our time together-it's hard to say goodbye!

View Offers

Receive a $100 per person Air Credit on select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

*Book a select 2015 air-inclusive Europe vacation to receive the $100 per person Air Credit. Valid on Cosmos and Monograms vacations of six nights or more. Must be booked, under deposit and discount applied between January 7 and May 5, 2015 for travel in 2015. Not applicable to custom tours. Not applicable on instant purchase air. Applies to coach class only. Air must be purchased through Cosmos or Monograms in conjunction with a Europe vacation. Air credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. Offer not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos $50 coupon and Cosmos Single Supplement promotion and Monograms Wanderlist promos. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Air Credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. An additional $300 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with a land vacation. Once ticketed, airline reservations subject to change/cancellation penalties of between $300 per ticket and 100% of ticket price; air tickets not eligible for frequent flyer mileage/point accrual; stopovers not permitted. Promotional discounts do not carry forward on changed air bookings however other promotions at time of change may be available. Once airfare is confirmed and we have received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive price is guaranteed. We reserve the right to ticket passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; visit www.iflybags.com for more details. Availability of promotional prices are limited and may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates or, length of stay. Additional restrictions apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. Air tickets are non-commissionable. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. CST#2017032-20. PRMY072

Save $50 per person on any 2015 Cosmos vacation.*

*Book a 2015 Cosmos vacation to receive the $50 per person discount on the land price. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between March 11 and April 7, 2015 for travel in 2015. Discount will apply to individual members of groups adding a name and non-refundable per person deposit WITHIN the promo window. Not applicable on TBA space. Not applicable to custom tours. Not combinable with any other promotion except the Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit, Cosmos Eastern Canada $200 and the current air promo. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. PRMX0266

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on the Italy & Greece with Aegean Cruise: